"UNELANUHI" IS THE CHEROKEE SUN GODDESS; HER NAME MEANS APPORTIONER OF TIME, AND SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DIVIDING TIME INTO UNITS. IT IS HER ROUTINE PASSAGE THROUGH THE SKY THAT MARKS THE SEASONS AND DIVIDED NIGHT FROM DAY. SHE IS A HEALING GODDESS WHO AIDS THOSE WHO NEED ASSISTANCE.

ACCORDING TO AN OLD LEGEND, ORIGINALLY THE EARTH HAD NO SUN UNTIL "SPIDER WOMAN "WOVE A GREAT WEB AND PULLED "UNELANUHI" FROM DEEP WITHIN THE UNDERWORLD AND INTO THE SKY, AND ALTHOUGH SHE BELONGS TO NO ONE, SHE iS VISITED ONCE A MONTH BY A MYSTERIOUS LOVER WHO PLEASURES HER WITHOUT REVEALING HIS IDENTITY. WHEN SHE DISCOVERS IT IS HER BROTHER, HIS SHAME MAKES HIM KEEP AS MUCH DISTANCE AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN THEM, ALTHOUGH ONCE A MONTH, DURING THE "DARK MOON," HE CONTINUES TO VISIT HER BED.

THE SUN WAS THE PRIMARY OBJECT OF WORSHIP TO THE CHEROKEE, AND THEY WORSHIPPED HER BY BOWING TO HER AS SHE RISES IN THE SKY.